80 years ago mom was an expert at patching before it wore out. Old art that seems to be lost. Put patch on knee of jeans when it is very thin, but doesn’t yet have a hole. Put collar patch on before it is worn thru, same with elbows, etc. Looks a lot neater as patches are uniform and no edges of holes to telegraph thru. Often times in sweaters coats, etc, patch was thin leather and actually looked good.
Socks were worn “1” day and washed, any small holes were darned and if hole in toe, toe nails were trimmed short. Grand dad usually knit boot socks and mittens, for some reason a lot of store bought ones had a different colored heel area, reinforced I think, and wore a long time.
I think with a combination of better material, careful washing, drying on a cloths line, and careful patching, we probably got twice the wear out of the cloths we had as kids.
I have some old Dic**** work shirts made in the USA that I wear that are 20 years old and dark colored. New ones fade out in 6 months and wear out in year. Made overseas out of God knows where cotton was grown or woven.
Every bug out bag needs a sewing kit. 1 inch tear now will be 3 in hole tomorrow and patch will keep cold air out. Don’t neglect suture kit as holes in humans tend to create huge problems with infection and slow healing.
Don’t forget recycling either. I carry 22 in a bandaleer made out of old jean cloth. Fits in pack as a space filler and doesn’t fall apart like a box. During WW2 the Germans dropped food, beans and dried peas, etc, to the troops in Stalingrad packed into two sacks. When the bag hit the ground, the inner bag broke, but the outer one didn’t and kept the food contained. Old jean legs make good strong small sacks, same with shirt arms. Larger pieces can be used for wash cloths, dish rags, patches, quilt pieces, made into sacks, made into baby clothes, your mind is the limit.
Good one Chello. Thank you.
Not totally on topic, but Chell opened a real can of worms with his post on sewing kit and bugout bags. Here is an ad for a company in Finland that makes shirts out of recycled wool army blankets. Good ideas and it does get rather cool in Finland. Have seen plans for a Hudson Bay blanket coat as well.
https://www.varusteleka.com/en/product/jama-blanket-shirt/35226
They also have eye and ear protection goods. Finns tend to be a little more fire arm aware. Russia for a neighbor and losing half your country does have some effects.
https://www.varusteleka.com/en/group/eye-and-ear-protection/1191
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